‘Enjoy it while we have it’: Weekend weather to hit 20 degrees but rain to return

Met Éireann warns of high UV rays of between six and seven on Saturday

Met Éireann is warning members of the public to be conscious of high UV rays over the weekend as temperatures are expected to hit 20 degrees.

The majority of the country except for extremely northern areas will reach a high of between six and seven on the solar UV index due to dry and mostly sunny weather being forecast throughout the day on Saturday.

People are expected to hit beaches and popular tourist spots across the country, with thousands set to visit Bloom, the country’s annual largest garden and food festival.

Advice is for both adults and children to ensure that sunscreen is worn at all times, seek shade during the warmest times (midday to 4pm) and wear sunglasses, even if it does become a little cloudy.

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Temperatures are to range from 16-20 degrees with light, moderate winds although, it is expected to be cloudier at times in eastern and northern areas.

Met Éireann spokeswoman Liz Walsh said: “As bank holiday weather goes it’s not bad. Today will probably be the best of the weather so get out and enjoy it. Over Saturday and Sunday we could see highs of 21 degrees. So do slop on the sunscreen, even in cloudier patches, slap on the sunglasses, hat and enjoy it while we have it.

“The temperatures will be capped due to a northerly weather influence so we won’t see any mid-20 degree heat.”

Saturday night will remain dry with clear spells at first, followed by cloud increasing from the northwest. Lows of 5-9 degrees are expected.

Sunday will be more of the same temperature-wise, with the best of any bright or sunny intervals in the south and southeast. There will be a little deterioration in the weather with clouds setting in other parts of the country and some light patchy drizzle coming from the northwest.

“We are in a benign, slow moving weather front currently but Monday seems to be chopping and changing at the moment,” Ms Walsh said.

“The drizzle will become a little heavier but there are signs it could brighten up in the afternoon in some parts of the country.”

She added that as the working week kicks in on Tuesday, it will be windy and cooler and 2 degrees lower than normal but “it will not be particularly wet”.

Tuesday will start off mostly cloudy with some light rain or drizzle spreading eastward, brightening up from the northwest with a few showers following. Highest temperatures will be 14-18 degrees with moderate to fresh northwest winds.

Wednesday will be a cool, breezy day with sunny spells and scattered showers. Highest temperatures will be 11-15 degrees with moderate to fresh, west to northwest winds. Thursday is to be another cool, showery day, with sunny spells, light to moderate westerly winds and temperature highs of 16 degrees.